Merlene Ottey after winning the 100m in Hengelo (© Willem Pfeiffer)
From the outset, it became abundantly clear that any high expectations at the 14th Slovenian National Championships would not be met (10/11 July).
Indeed, with driving rains, strong winds and rapidly falling temperatures the first day, and just plain bitter cold the second, the conditions were more conducive to the summer ski-jumping competition which was held here last weekend as well.
Sprint double
Yet even with a freshly fallen snow visible in the peaks to the northwest providing an unlikely backdrop, Matic Osovnikar didn't seem too bothered as he completed the finest sprint weekend in Slovenian athletics history.
Just as the gentle rains took a fierce turn for the worst on Friday, the 24-year-old Osovnikar, a sprint finalist at both the 2003 and 2004 World Indoor Championships, rode a +4.3 wind to a 10.08 win in the 100 metres, the second fastest-ever short dash performance in this tiny Central European country.
Considering the conditions --unseasonably cold, with a driving rain on a drenched track-- the performance was certainly a noteworthy one. But the full-time dentistry student kept his feet planted firmly on the ground.
"Sure, I was delighted with the time," a beaming Osovnikar said. "It's nice to keep getting closer to ten seconds. But it would be nice to first get the national record (10.21) under normal conditions."
200m national record
The rapidly improving Osovnikar returned on the second day to win the 200 in 20.61 in windless conditions, shaving three-one hundredths of a second from the five-year-old national record. Winning by nearly six-tenths of a second, it was an entirely solo run.
A native of Skofja Loka, some 20 kilometers east of Slovenia's capital Ljubljana, Osovnikar already holds the national records for the indoor 60 (6.58) and 200 (20.77) dashes.
"This weekend went well for me, but I still don't believe I'm in top form," he said. "I'm hoping that August will be even better." His next start may come at the Norwich Union International in Birmingham on July 25, and plans to contest both sprints in Athens.
Hammer – four attempts beyond 76m
Primoz Kozmus, fifth in the Hammer throw at last year's World Championships, had four efforts beyond 76 metres, topped by a 77.15 best. But the 25-year-old is still looking to reclaim the technical nuts and bolts that led to his national record 81.21 last season that made him the ninth furthest thrower in 2003. "My strength's there, but I'm not really satisfied with my technique right now. I just have to keep working on it."
Lapping all but two runners, national steeplechase record holder (8:16.98) Bostjan Buc won his event handily in 8:46.04, using it primarily as a tempo run before heading to St. Moritz for his pre-Olympic altitude preparation. The 24-year-old, fourth in the competitive Hengelo race in May (8:18.43), had planned on making his first training trip to Africa, but decided that a two-week training stint in Ethiopia might be a risky undertaking.
"It's too close to the Olympics for a first trip to such altitude," he said. "Something like that could go well, or it could go badly." His final pre-Athens competition will be in Linz, Austria on August 2.
Ceplak withdrawal
With the unseasonably cold conditions, world-leader Jolanda Ceplak withdrew from the 800. Ceplak said she has two dates penciled into her calendar prior to Athens -- Birmingham on July 25, and the KBC Night of Athletics in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium on July 31. Zurich's high-powered Weltklasse meeting, she said, may be too close to Athens, and she'll probably skip that competition as well.
Ageless Ottey
The cold didn't keep ageless Merlene Ottey from competing in the first round of the 100 on Friday, in which the now 44-year-old sprint legend dashed to a 11.13 virtually solo effort, albeit pushed by a hefty +5.3 wind. With temperatures dipping and the rain strengthening, she opted out of the evening's final, which was won by Kristina Zumer in 11.78, the day after she earned her master's degree in Biochemistry.
Langerholc – blustery 400m sharpener
800m specialist Brigita Langerholc, who finished fourth in the Sydney Olympics, was hoping for a good speed workout over the one-lap race. Instead, she battled the driving rain and puddle-ridden track en route to an easy, if wet, 54.95 win. The 28-year-old Langerholc, the 2001 NCAA champion for the University of Southern California, holds the national record in the 400 (52.02), but is still seeking an Olympic 'A' qualifier in her preferred event.
Double winners included Marina Tomic, who claimed the 100m Hurdles in 13.17 (+2.4), and 200 in 24.62, and Snezana Vukmirovic, victor in the horizontal jumps. The 22-year-old battled the elements here en route to 6.10 and 13.51 best efforts.
Elsewhere, Athens-bound Miran Vodovnik and Rozle Prezelj won the Shot Put (20.24) and High Jump (2.24) respectively.
Guevara date
It was confirmed that Slovenia will host one more international competition prior to Athens. "Ljubljana Before Athens," an EAA permit meeting, is scheduled for Tuesday evening, August 10 in the Slovenian capital. Ana Guevara, currently training in Ljubljana, is scheduled to compete in the 300m.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
